The Conservative Opposition Party of Canada on Thursday dropped its resistance to carbon pricing and adopted the emissions and fuel tax as part of its own climate plan, a move that could put it at odds with some of its strongest supporters. .
Climate change has proven to be a thorny issue for the Conservative Party under Erin O’Toole. Most Conservative delegates voted against recognizing climate change as a real threat to a political convention last month.
“We will drop carbon tax (Liberal Prime Minister) Justin Trudeau on working Canadians,” O’Toole told the convention, noting that the party “fought and lost two elections against a carbon tax.”
O’Toole said his own plan was better than the liberal’s. The price of carbon imposes taxes on the use of carbon-based fuels, such as oil, either through emissions taxes or by adding petrol and other fuels to the price.
Trudeau’s national carbon price is set to rise to $ 170 per tonne by 2030, although 90% is returned to Canadian taxpayers through reductions. Conservatives would cap prices at $ 50 a tonne for taxpayers who would pay the tax into a government savings account and could use the money to make “green” purchases, such as bicycles.
A number of provinces – including the Alberta Conservative Party’s energy center and stronghold – oppose carbon pricing and have challenged the government’s scheme in the Supreme Court. Last month, the court upheld Trudeau’s plan. Read more
“Any new climate plan … must minimize costs for Albertans and our commercially exposed industries, while continuing to responsibly reduce emissions in Alberta,” said Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon.
O’Toole said a Conservative government will meet Canada’s international commitment to reduce emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 and match the promised greenhouse gas reductions in the liberal climate plan.
“It’s outrageous that O’Toole now intends to hit Canadians with higher fuel bills with his own carbon tax,” said Franco Terrazzano, director of the Canadian Federation of Alberta Taxpayers.
Many liberal islanders expect Trudeau to seek elections later this year. Trudeau’s Liberals lead O’Toole’s Conservatives from 37 percent to 29 percent, according to an Abacus Data poll released Thursday.
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